Economy
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Wages and the cost of living
An increase in the wages of the lowest paid employees, so that they can keep pace with the cost of living, is unlikely to lead to higher unemployment. Instead, it may well help improve overall economic outcomes. Continue reading »
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Albanese and minimum wages. Should the government support a 5.1% increase ?
There has never been a better time to increase minimum wages than now. And there has never been a bigger need. Continue reading »
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What a new Minister should do about trade policies and trade justice
As you go to the polling booth on May 21, your candidates will be asking for your vote to repair an economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and fire. But before you entrust them with your vote, you should also ask how their party’s trade policies will help or hinder the national recovery. Continue reading »
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The Coalition is guaranteeing essential services and lower tax. We can’t have both
In the midst of Labor’s campaign about the cost of living, the Coalition has zeroed in on one of those costs – taxes – and guaranteed to stop them rising. Continue reading »
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Dancing on the edge of calamity
Our leaders are blindly dancing on the edge of calamity sternly refusing to look at the quagmire opening below them. The blindfold that Morrison has firmly tied around his own eyes, and which Albanese has failed to pull from his, is our obsession with a long term cap on tax at 23.9% of GDP – Continue reading »
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Stagnating living standards under Morrison
Living standards have stagnated since the Coalition was elected to government, but in the Budget it is now forecasting an improved performance. How likely is this? Continue reading »
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Which party is the better economic manager? Neither!
The reality is that neither of the major parties can reasonably claim to be ‘better economic managers’ than the other. Continue reading »
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Eraring’s 2025 exit and Mike Cannon-Brookes/Brookfield AGL takeover could reduce power bills
The closure of Eraring power station and AGL’s takeover bid are likely to reduce electricity prices for consumers as low-cost renewable energy and additional storage replace the retiring coal generators. Continue reading »
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This election needs policies that address cost of living, not just unemployment
Scott Morrison wants us to believe that low unemployment means the economy is fine, but there are other structural economic issues at play too. Continue reading »
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With a tricky Budget challenge coming up, winning an election may be easy part
Whether it likes it or not, the party that wins the election will most likely be forced to raise additional taxation revenue not long afterwards. Continue reading »
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Token taxes: the gas industry’s great royalties ripoff
LNG producers insist they bankroll crucial government services — but the royalties they pay are paltry and the jobs they create are relatively few. Continue reading »
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Morrison government fiddles as the economy stagnates
The government’s economic forecasts are highly questionable and the uncertain budget outlook raises doubts about the future funding of essential services. Continue reading »
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Increasing wealth inequality: how should the government respond?
Even if flaws in the retirement support system are addressed, there would still be a good case for an inheritance tax on the largest transfers. Continue reading »
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Overhaul the global financial system for the sake of the planet
The current two-tiered global financial system only allows rich countries to borrow on decent market terms so they can tackle problems like climate change. Continue reading »
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Victoria’s game-changing tax funds infrastructure from developer’s profits
The worthy name, Windfall Gains Tax, cloaks legislation that delivers the muscle and money to build schools and hospitals while keeping planning and rezoning honest. Continue reading »
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Our White Man’s Media again hides important Australian news about China
China has just signed two major LNG contracts with US companies at the expense of Australia. There has been little mention of it in any Australian media. Continue reading »
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Unprecedented land price increase provokes division across society.
As our federal politicians look the other way whilst housing prices continue to escalate, a national record reminds why this issue won’t go away. Continue reading »
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Scott Morrison’s budget report card: could do a hell of a lot better
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s determination to win elections exceeds his commitment to businesslike management of taxpayers’ money. Continue reading »
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A good time to end negative gearing and taxpayer subsidised speculation in housing
There are many things wrong with both housing policy and tax policy, and the interaction of them predictably creates distortions in our housing market. It makes it impossible for many young people to own their own home. Continue reading »
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How flimflam politicians cultivate a culture of business greed
The outsourcing of crucial government services to private operators in the name of efficiency has often resulted in a shameless chase for profit with taxpayers left counting the cost. Continue reading »
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Don’t believe what you hear about fuel excise and road funding in the forthcoming election campaign
It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that road spending is way too high, priorities are wrong, and there is a roads empire which is out of control. Continue reading »
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How modern technology could bring democracy to a crossroads
Advances in technology have resulted in employment and wage dislocations that are polarising society and undermining trust in political institutions. Continue reading »
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Where there are tailings, no grass grows: Serbians protest against Rio Tinto
Australian mining giant Rio Tinto is at the centre of a new controversy — this time, over a lithium mine and processing plant in Serbia. Continue reading »
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Policy wreck: we’re being told two contradictory stories about NSW trains
Stories about Gladys Berejiklian’s private life or bureaucratic fights might sell papers, but they distract from grave problems in transport policy. Continue reading »
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Money and policy are the keys to elevate Australia into top broadband league
It seems Labor has bitten the bullet and decided that to have an overall better quality NBN, more money is needed to upgrade the fibre to the node to full fibre. Continue reading »
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Blacklisting the Israeli spyware company
The US has blacklisted Israeli spyware company NSO, which is associated with the Saudi government’s murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Continue reading »
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The nuclear industry’s updated songsheet remains outdated
The campaign for nuclear power stations in Australia defies the unstoppable rise of renewables and should be rejected by governments and the electorate — it’s a technology whose time has passed. Continue reading »
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
This weekly post is a collection of links to recent articles, reports, podcasts, interviews, and notices of upcoming webinars, on political, economic and public policy issues, that may be of interest to Pearls and Irritations readers. Continue reading »
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John Austen: Time to call time on Infrastructure Australia? It has failed
The latest Australian Infrastructure Plan avoids the key issue: Commonwealth (lack of) direction. It seems aimed at bureaucratic empire building and should herald the end of Infrastructure Australia. Continue reading »
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
This weekly post is a collection of links to recent articles, reports, podcasts, interviews, and notices of upcoming webinars, on political, economic and public policy issues, that may be of interest to Pearls and Irritations readers. Continue reading »
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